mexican beadwork

These beadwork earrings are as mesmerizing as rain drops falling on tropical leaves in the rain forest. Adriana Trejo in west central Mexico takes her inspiration from summer showers using seed beads in black, green and blue. Each tiny glass globe is individually strung with great precision to wear on sterling silver hooks.

Petite glass beads in iridescent greens and purple are used to craft this necklace from Mexico. By Adriana Trejo, it features beadwork in the style of Huichol handicrafts. Yet the feel is distinctly modern with a waterfall of roots that fan out like lace.

A sterling silver diamond dangles from a slender chain, hosting a waterfall of petite glass beads that capture the hues of a desert sunset. Each strand culminates in a petite globe of blue agate. By Ana Mirez, the elegant necklace is handcrafted in the traditional style of Huichol beadwork.

Rivulets of spring green, yellow and golden brown flow together with white and espresso. They evoke a wide river of colors more than three inches long. By skilled artisans from Mexico's Huichol Center for Cultural Survival and Traditional Arts, these dramatic waterfall earrings make a bold fashion statement. The lovely cascades of seed beads dance on sterling silver hooks.

Images of Frida Kahlo come to life in tiny, colorful seed beads. Huichol Center for Cultural Survival and Traditional Arts artisans craft this novel necklace, meticulously placing tiny seed beads one by one. Immortalized in film, Kahlo and her husband, muralist Diego Rivera, were leaders in Mexico's artistic and intellectual world during the first half of the 20th century.

Decorated with hearts and flowers, a festive white skull celebrates Mexico's Day of the Dead. Artisans from the Huichol Center for Cultural Survival and Traditional Arts demonstrate their skill with traditional beadwork. Crafted by hand, the pendant dances on a black cord.

A cascade of aqua, tangerine, peach and espresso is transformed into earrings almost five inches long. By skilled artisans from Mexico's Huichol Center for Cultural Survival and Traditional Arts, these bold waterfall earrings make a dramatic fashion statement. The lovely seed beads and faceted globes dance on sterling silver hooks.

Images of Frida Kahlo come to life in tiny, colorful seed beads. Artisans from the Huichol Center for Cultural Survival and Traditional Arts craft these novel three-inch long earrings, meticulously placing tiny seed beads one by one. Immortalized in film, Kahlo and her husband, muralist Diego Rivera, were leaders in Mexico's artistic and intellectual world during the first half of the 20th century.

Evoking dreamcatchers, these opulent statement earrings are some five inches long. Crafted entirely by hand, this design by artisans from Mexico's Huichol Center for Cultural Survival and Traditional Arts is exquisite. Their intricate beauty comes from seed beads in black and greens, meticulously placed one at a time. They dance on sterling silver hooks.

Sterling silver diamonds host waterfalls of petite glass beads that capture the colors of a desert sunset. Blue agates dance at the end of each strand, displaying their beauty. Ana Mirez creates waterfall earrings, crafted in the traditional style of Huichol beadwork.

White rabbits chase glowing orange deer around an exquisite nierika, or votive beadwork composition by Kupihaute, which takes the shape of a flower with five wide petals.

The artisan, who writes fluently in the Huichol, Nahuatl, Spanish and English languages, talks about this work in his own words. "This nierika/mirror represents the duality of our existence. The rabbit symbolizes the permanent movement of earthiness reflected in the lunar mirror. The deer is the spirit that animates the movement of our wise memory, marking the spiral path of our ancestral cultures in permanent transformation and adaptation around the peyote-maize." The artist has created the word "eARThiness" to emphasize the word "art" found inside "earth." "For me, this eARThiness is very important and meaningful."

The intricate images are formed with tiny seed beads. Kupihuate patiently places them one at a time with a needle made of abalone shell onto a huanacaxtle wood backing. Beeswax is used instead of glue.

The process is totally spontaneous, with no previous sketch or design. It is guided by the artist's unconscious to tell the stories that remain in our collective ancestral memory. He signs his work with the symbol of a butterfly on the reverse side of the nierika.

Formed of three blue peyote buds, a lighted candle is radiant in this exquisite nierika, or votive beadwork painting by Kupihaute. A butterfly alights on either side in his composition, which takes the shape of a flower with five wide petals.

The artisan, who writes fluently in the Huichol, Nahuatl, Spanish and English languages, talks about this work in his own words. "The nierika is a mirror that is offered to the sea together with the first corn that has been harvested, in order to renew the cycle of rains that will give life to the next crop cycle. As in most of the ancient cultures of our planet, the candle represents our trajectory between being born and returning. For this reason, even today, during the celebration of our birthday, it is customary to light and blow out as many candles as solar cycles have elapsed. The butterflies and spirals are indicating that existence is energy in permanent transformation between arising from and returning to earth."

The intricate images are formed with tiny seed beads. Kupihuate patiently places them one at a time with a needle made of abalone shell onto a huanacaxtle wood backing. Beeswax is used instead of glue.

The process is totally spontaneous, with no previous sketch or design. It is guided by the artist's unconscious to tell the stories that remain in our collective ancestral memory. He signs his work with the symbol of a butterfly on the reverse side of the nierika.